Smoke and spark arrester for cupolas



July 21, 1953 M. w. GOLDBERG I SMOKE AND SPARK ARRESTER FOR CUPOLAS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1949v July 2l, 1953 M. w. GOLDBERG 2,646,263

SMOKE AND SPARK ARRESTER FOR CUPOLAS Filed Dec. 27, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. @Wg/@f Patented July 21, 1953 UNITED STATE-s slvioku AND SPARK AaREs'rEn Fon oUroLAs Max W. Goldberg, West Bend, Wist.,l assigner to Modern Equipment Company, Port Washing.- ton, Wis., a corporationof Wisconsin v Application December 27, 1949, Serial No. 135,170

This invention relates to improvements in smoke and spark arresters forcupolas.

During certain periods of operation, foundry cupolas emit rather large quantities of smoke. This is not only undesirable but, in certain areas, violates local smoke control ordinances. dition, sparks commonly escape with the nue gases and create a fire hazard.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide eiiicient apparatus for kremoving gsoiaims. (ci. csi- In adsparks and smoke particles from the flue gases f emitted from cupolas or similar heating devices. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved smoke and spark arrester which advantageously puts to use heat of the iiue gases v which is normally wasted.

provide an improved smoke and spark arrester for a cupola wherein there is an enclosed chamber surrounding the upper end of 1the cupola Vwhich chamber is provided with an outlet, said arrester having an enclosed uidreceptacle `positioned within said chamber and above the upper Vend of the cupola in a manner to be directly Texposed to the flue `gases emitted from the cupola, l

and there being nozzles around the periphery of said receptacle for discharging fluid from said receptaclegacross the path ofthe flue gases after the liquid in said receptacle 'has been heated by said nue gases.

A further object of the invention is to yprovide an improved smoke and sparkv arrester .of the class described wherein a substantial amount of theY fluid discharged from thereceptacle vris drained ofras dirt carrying condensate, said ar- '40 rester being so constructed that the dirt in the condensate is removed therefrom and said'condensate is recirculated through the unit.

A further object of the-invention is to provide a smoke and spark arrester of the class described "wherein there is an elongated', horizontally extending discharge chamber communicating at v one end'vvith the main chamber and provided with av plurality of transverse screens, there being an elongated, vertical Ushaped discharge duct communicating with and depending from the wherein the discharge chamber yand discharge transversely extending screens.

duct may be provided with a plurality of spaced,

`A further object of the invention vide an improved smoke and spark arrester wherein there is means for removing foreign matter from the iiue gases in the ducts bythe use of fluid sprays which sprays reduce the'volurne of said gases, the size of the ducts being progressively reduced proportionately to said reduction in the volume of the gases so that the velocity 'of the gases is not substantially increased.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved smoke and spark arrester having a` downwardly extending duct portion and having an upwardly extending exhaust stack, there being a tank' which aords communication between said members and there being. an exhaust fan associated with said tank, 'the latter including a novel arrangement for washing the gases and for further reducing the volume thereof.

' A further object of the invention is to provide in a device as above described having atomizing spray nozzles for directing fluid across the'path ofthe flue gasesl and having a recirculating system for said nozzles, additional means for directing a spray of cooling water across the path of tions, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.'

In the drawings accompanyingA and forming a vpart o f this specification, wherein is illustrated one complete embodim'entof the preferred'form of the invention, and wherein like characters of reference indicate the same parts in all of the views:V

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a cupola with which one of the improved smoke and spark arresters is operatively associated, parts being broken away and shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately lalong the eline 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the discharge duct and blower taken approximately along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View is to prof showing the cooling water tank, taken approximately on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken approximately on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates a cupola mounted on a suitable support 6 and having an open upper end 7. The cupola 5 is provided with a blower 8 which communicates with an annular chamber 9 at the base of the cupola, commonly known as the wind box.

Suitably mounted in enclosing relationshipV with the upper end of the cupola 5, as shown in Fig. l, is a cylindrical chamber I having a centrally apertured circular bottom wall II and a circular upper end wall I2. In addition, there is a discharge opening I3 in the side wall adjacent the upper end wall I2. The upper end of the cupola 5 projects through the aperture in the bottom wall II of the chamber I5] and terminates at a point spaced above said bottom wall.

Fixed to the upper end of the cupola and projecting upwardly from spaced points on the periphery thereof are a plurality of supporting I5 is such that substantially all of the hot iiue gases discharged from the cupola will wipe the undersurface of the receptacle I5 before said gases escape.

Mounted on the upper surface of the upper shell of the receptacle I5 and adjacent the periphery thereof are a plurality of circumferentially spaced nozzles I6 which communicate with the interior of the receptacle I5. A nozzle Il, similar to the nozzles I6, may be positioned at the apex of the upper shell of the receptacle I5. The nozzles are of any suitable construction capable of producing an atomizing spray.

Positioned adjacent the base of the cupola 5 is a reservoir I8 provided with an intermediate partition I8 which terminates short of the upper margins of the reservoir I3, as shown. A drain pipe I9 communicates with the interior of the chamber Il! through the bottom plate II thereof and extends downwardly to the reservoir I8, as shown in Fig. 1, extending to near the bottom of said reservoir on one side of the partition i3. l An electrically driven pump 26, preferably of the centrifugal type, has an inlet conduit 2i communicating with the Yinterior of the reservoir i8 on the side of the partition opposite the pipe I9. A lter screen ZI may be positioned adjacent the open end of the inlet conduit 2l. The outlet of the pump 2@ extends into the interior of the receptacle I'5 through a conduit 22 which conduit connects with the lower shell of the receptacle I5, at the apex thereof, as shown in Fig. 1. The conduit 22 may be equipped with an on and oli valve 55 and with a Valve 55 which may be adjusted to a predetermined setting to meter the iiow.

An elongated discharge or exhaust chamber 23 projects horizontally from a side wall of the chamber IB and communicates with said chamber through the opening I3. The discharge chamber 23 preferably has a horizontal topwall 24, vertical side walls 25 which .l 3S, a@ .251 9J vertical end wall 28, and a bottom wall 29, the latter sloping slightly from the outer end toward the chamber IEP, as shown in Fig. l. A drain conduit L73 is in communication with the interior of the discharge chamber 23 adjacent the inner endv of (the lowermost point in) the bottom wall 29, and the conduit 353 may be directed into the reservoir I8 along with the pipe ES, ii desired. Y Extending across the opening I3 may be a relatively coarse screen 3l to prevent the passage of relatively large particles with the flue gases, and extending transversely of the discharge chamber 23 may be a plurality of spaced relatively ne mesh screens 32.

Communicating with the interior of the receptacle I5 and projecting upwardly therefrom is an L-sha-ped conduit 33 having a relatively short horizontal extent directed toward the opening I3 and screen SI. The end of the L-shaped conduit 33 carries a nozzle 35. A Z-shaped conduit 35 communicates with the conduit 53 at the upper portion thereof. The conduit 35 extends through the screen 3i, and terminates between the screen 3l and the innermost screen 32. The conduit 35 carries at its outer end a nozzle 36.

The bottom plate 29 of the discharge chamber 23 is formed adjacent its outer end with an opening 3l. Extending vertically downwardly from the opening 3'? is an elongated exhaust duct 33. rThe lower end of the exhaust duct 38 communicates with one end of the upper wall il of a generally horizontally extending duct or tank 3Q. The ducts 38 and 39 maybe supported by suitable leg structure d. The duct 39 has a pair of voppositely disposed vertical end walls i2 and 3, and a unitary side and bottom` wall plate d4 which is generally U-shaped in cross section. The arcuate portion of the plate it slopes from the end adjacent the duct 38 downwardly toward the opposite end, and said plate d4 is formed with a drain connection :l5 adjacent the lowermost end thereof.

A centrifugal blower 45 is mounted adjacent a side wall of the tank 3S at the end thereof opposite the duct 38. The blower l5 is provided with an inlet conduit 41 which extends into the interior of the tank 39 throughthe adjacent side wall portion thereof, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3. The blower 46 is driven by an electric motor 4S which may be mounted on a suitable pedestal QS adjacent the blower. The dischargeend of the blower 4S communicates with a vertically extending exhaust stack 50 which preferably projects upwardly beyond the roof of the building in which the cupola is mounted. The duct 38 may have a plurality of spaced transversely extending screens 5I positioned therein. it is apparent that the ducts 38, 3S and 5t form a unitary, generally U-shaped exhaust duct.

Depending from the top of the tank 39 is an obliquely extending baille 51 (see Fig. 4) having its lower edge terminating well above the bottom 44. A pair of atomizing spray nozzles 58 to which cold water is conducted by ipipe'sllirs Vadapted to direct a spray toward and against the bafe 5T. Valves 59 may be utilized to control the discharge from the nozzles 58.

Below the nozzles 58 is aA pipe 6l which may be used as an overflow pipe to control the level of the liquid BQ in the bottom of the tank 39.A lThis pipe may empty into the reservoir I8.

Additional cold water spray nozzles 62 and 63 may be employed in the exhaust stack 5E), as shown in Fig. 1 to urther` cool the exhaust gases.

'Fliese nozzles may bel independently controlled by'valves 62"/ and 633" andmay be suppliedwith cold'water by a= pipe t4 leading from al suitable source of water under pressure.

" AThe operation oi'- the improved smoke and spark arrester is substantially as follows:

The pump 2li pumps water under pressure from the reservoir [Si through theconduits-2i andZl into the closed receptacle i5.V The regulating valve 5G maybe adjusted to keep the cone substantially lled withjwa-ter. The hot nue gases beingv discharged from theopen upper end 'I of the cupola 5 wipe the bottomv surface of the receptacle 5^' and raise the temperature of the water therein to the boiling point or very near the boling point. lThe pressure within the receptacle F5', created by the pump, causes the water to be discharged from the nozzles it and' i1, 3ft and 36. Inasmuch as the nozzles are atomizing nozzles, the water is broken up into a ne mis-t so that it is flashed into steam almost instantly upon coming in Contact with the hot gases in the chamber IIJ. From Fig. 2 it will be noted that as the nue gases pass upwardly around' the periphery of the receptacle iidtheyvmust pass through the mist and steam emitted from the .nozzles I6 and il.

The 'mist or steam emitted. from they nozzles extingu-ishes any sparks and carries with it the dirt particles in the flue gases. As the steam contacts the walls of the chamber iii and the-walls of the chamber 23, the steam is condensed and flows down the side walls of'sai'd chambers to the bottomplates and thence out `ofthe drain conduits I9 and 30.V Q

Referring to Fig. 1, the cone i5 is spaced above i The inclined The conical form vvof '1 the top of the' receptacle l5 allows any condensate whichf'all's thereon to flow toward the bottom trough l l. v

The suction fan 45 keeps the gases moving and addition, the gases must pass beneath the lower edge 65 of thebale 5l, through thecurta'in of water Si!" which is cascading from said lowerl edge toward the bottom` of the tank'39. The

water atiil therefore, again washes the gases and gases outwardly and upwardly to aid in their movement and to insure passage through thev steam and mist.

The condensate is returned to the reservoir i3 by the conduits IS and 39, and the dirt par' ticles therein will settle to the bottom of the reservoir I8 adjacent the lower end of the pipe i9. The condensate overflows the partition i3 and, after being filtered by the screen 2i', is recirculated by the pump 2i). The dirt particles separated from the nue gases by the screens 3l, 32, and 52 are washed oif said screens by condensate which collects thereon andV runs down said screens carrying the dirt particles with Vit toward the drain pipes. y y

Referring to Fig. 2, it is apparent that the flared side wall portions of the discharge chamber 23 provide an enlarged throat so that there isv reached this duct. rIhe reduction in the. vductY size is approximately proportional to the reduction in the volume of the gases'so that Velocity` of the gases is maintained substantially constant with no substantial increase. Too high a velocity is undesirable because foreign material can be removed more eiiiciently from the flue gases when the gases are not travelling too fast.

again cools the same. The area of the space` between the lower edge of the bafde S5 and the surl face of the water 25B' in the bottom of the tank must be greater than the area of the inlet 55 to the suction pump 46, After the gases leave the pump they are blown 4upwardly in the exhaust conduit 5i) Where they may be again sprayed with cold water by the spray nozzles 62 and t3 v(Fig. l). f

It is to be noted from Figs. l and 5 that the fan intake opening E6 is elongated and located intermediate the width of the tank 39 so that the gases from the duct 38 will pass through the curtain 5G across substantially the full width thereof.

By having the gases pass beneaththe lower edge 55 of the baffle 5l of Fig. 4 they are not only cooled by the curtain of waterv Eil, but are also cooled by sweeping the surface of the body of water 53'.

The water from the sprays Si) which is returned to the reservoir I8 through the pipe 6I provides make up water to replace that lost out of the stack 5E.

The improved smoke and spark arresting apparatus, in addition to extinguishing al1 sparks, effectively removes substantially all solid particles from the ue gases emitted from thecupola 5.

The improved arrester 'will operate satisfactorily without the use of the screens', but experience has shown that increased efciency results from the use thereof. Also, it is obvious that the apparatus will function satisfactorily whether or not the condensate is recirculated, or if means other thanthe reservoir shown is used to separate the dirt particles from the condensate. Y

Various' changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated, as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a smoke and spark arrester for a cupola wherein said cupola has an open upper end: an enclosure surrounding said upper end of the e cupola and having an exhaust opening covered with a screen; an enclosed receptacle mounted within said enclosure at the upper end of the cupola and in a position to be wiped by the flue gases emitted from the cupola; means for introducing a liquid into said receptacle; at least one nozzle for discharging fluid from said receptacle into said enclosure after the liquid therein has been heated by said flue gases an exhaust chamber communicating at one end with the exhaust opening of said enclosure and having its own exhaust opening at the opposite end thereof; nozzles connected to said receptacle and positioned to discharge heated fluid from said receptacle against said exhaust openingscreen and into said exhaust chamber; means for draining said exhaust chamber; a plurality of spaced transversely extending screens mounted in said eX- haust chamber; and an exhaust blower having its inlet communicating with the interior of said exhaust chamber through the exhaust opening of the latter.

2. In a smoke and spark arrester for a cupola wherein said cupola has an open upper end: an enclosure surrounding said upper end of the cupola and having an exhaust opening near the top thereof; an enclosed receptacle mounted within said enclosure at the upper end of the cupola and in a position to be wiped by the flue gases emitted from the cupola; means for introducing a liquid into said receptacle; at least one nozzle for discharging fluid from said receptacle into said enclosure after the liquid therein has been heated by said flue gases; a generally horizontally extending exhaust chamber near the top of said enclosure and communicating at one end with the exhaust opening of said enclosure and having its own exhaust opening at the opposite end thereof; a nozzle connected to said receptacle and positioned to discharge fluid from said receptacle into said exhaust chamber; means for draining said exhaust chamber; a vertically extending elongated generally U-shaped exhaust duct having a vertically extending leg portion thereof depending from said exhaust chamber and communicating with the interior of said exhaust chamber through the exhaust opening thereof; and a blower in said exhaust duct.

3. In a smoke and spark arrester for a cupola wherein said cupola has an open upper end: an enclosure surrounding said upper end of the cupola and having an exhaust opening covered with a screen; an enclosed circular receptacle mounted within said enclosure at the upper end of the cupola and spaced from the sides of said enclosure in a position to be wiped by the flue gases emitted from the cupola; means for introducing a liquid into said receptacle; a plurality of nozzles adjacent the periphery of said receptacle for discharging yfiuicl from said receptacle into said enclosure after the liquid therein has been heated by said flue gases; a nozzle spaced above said receptacle for discharging fluid from said receptacle adjacent the discharge opening of said enclosure; a generally horizontal exhaust chamber adjacent the top of saidr enclosure and communicating at one end with the exhaust opening of said enclosure vand having its own exhaust opening at the opposite end thereof; a nozzle connected to said receptacle and positioned within said exhaust chamber to discharge iiuid from said receptacle into said exhaust chamber; means for draining said exhaust chamber; a vertically extending elongated generally U-shaped exhaust duct having a Vertical leg portion thereof depending from said exhaust chamber and communicating with the interior of said exhaust chamber through the exhaust opening thereof, and a blower in said exhaust duct.

MAX W. GOLDBERG.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,027,951 White May 28, 1912 1,135,913 Nye Apr. l1 3, 1915 1,170,308 Mertz Feb. l, 1916 1,339,112 Kennedy May 4, 1920 1,609,611 Dovel Dec. 7, 1926 1,690,326 Bolling et al. Nov. 6, 1928 2,041,826 Garnier May 26, 1936 2,414,135 Berlowitz Jan. 14, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 285,406 Germany Dec. 5, 1913 439,106 France Mar. 30, 1912 827,261 France Jan. 24, 1938 

